China's current fifth-generation stealth plane is the J-20 Mighty Dragon'. It has been mass produced recently. China Central Television released a video showing the J-20 performing maneuvers at low speeds. This includes a vertical climb as well as a turn. The aircraft appears to have thrust vectoring controls that will improve its maneuverability. These controls enable pilots to control the direction of exhaust nozzles and redirect thrust. This gives the pilot an advantage when maneuvering quickly or evading missiles.
China has been producing thrust vectoring engine for more than 20 years. The Zhuhai 2018 air show was the first demonstration of these engines. Chinese engineers have been working for years on the development a high-thrust engine that will be a crucial component of the aircraft's design. The J-20 currently has a domestic WS-10C engine. The engine's design has not been optimized for thrust vectoring controls. PLA Air force has been testing domestic turbofans for thrust vectoring control on the J-10B fighter-jet. Chinese air force will confirm J-20s with engine developed in China in January 2021
Although thrust vector controls are not used as much by Western designers, they have been taken seriously by Chinese designers. Thrust vector controls are believed to improve the fighter's post-stall maneuverability and increase air-to-ground strike capability. Also, thrust vector controls may improve radar stealth capability. These advantages can prove to be very important for the Chinese Air Force as it attempts to compete with America.
Chinese engineers have been creating a high-thrust engine in a rectangular form. These engines are more maneuverable than other thrust vectoring engines. They will give the J-20 an advantage in today's air combat environment. They are also said to be more powerful than other engines. A source familiar with China's engine development program says that all WS-10C engines fitted to J-20s will be upgraded to provide thrust vectoring capabilities this year.
PLA has already deployed J-20s for air force units charged with the Taiwan Strait and East China Sea. These units are participating in exercises to close the gap between the US and their air combat capabilities. The aircraft's weapons bay will accommodate four to six long-range bombs. The aircraft can also carry heavy warheads. It is primarily designed to be an air superiority fighter. However, it can also perform air-to ground missions.
The J-20 was intended as an interceptor. The J-20 is now a more agile dogfighter due to the introduction and use of thrust vectoring. This aircraft will have a distinct advantage in air-to–air combat because it can perform sudden maneuvers.
The F-22 Raptor is one of the few aircraft that has thrust vector control. US air combat doctrine places emphasis on stealthy, high-energy, and beyond-visual range missile attacks. The US F-22's thrust vector control systems enable the pilot to change the direction of the exhaust nozzles to redirect thrust. It also allows the F-22 pilot to perform freefall floating falling leaves maneuvers, which increases low-speed maneuverability.